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MOSES  LINDCX 


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|i       A  Sketch  of  the  Most  Prominent  Jew  in 
|| 

Charleston  in  Provincial  Days. 

[> 

|3   , 

...  BY ... 

Dr.  BARNETT  A.  ELZAS, 

Rabbi  of  K.  K.  Beth  Elohim. 


[Reprinted  from  the  Charleston  News  and  Courier,  Jan.  1903.] 


^ 


MOSES  UNDO. 

A  Sketch  of  the  Most  Prominent  Jew  in 
Charleston  in  Provincial  Days. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  most  in- 
teresting figure  in  the  early  days  of  South 
Carolina's  history-  Who  Moses  Lindo 
was,  I  do  not  know.  I  only  know  what  is 
related  of  him  in  that  wonderfully  rich 
and  priceless  collection  of  Gazettes  that 
is  to  be  found  in  our  own  Charleston 
Library  alone.  I  have  as  yet  made  no  at- 
tempt to  trace  him  in  London.  I  shall  do 
so  later  and  I  am  satisfied  that  I  shall 
have  no  difficulty  in  finding  out  something 
more  about  him.  I  am  personally  ac- 
quainted with  several  members  of  the 
Lindo  family  in  London,  which  has  been 
notably  connected  with  the  Spanish  and 
Portuguese  community  of  that  city  for 
several  generations.  Picciotto  in  his 
charming  "Sketches  of  Anglo-Jewish  His- 
tory," (p.  124,)  makes  mention  of  a  Moses 
Lindo,  Jr,  as  a  prominent  member  of  the 
"Deputies  of  British  Jews,"  a  body  ap- 
pointed "To  watch  all  Acts  of  Parliament, 
Acts  of  Government,  laws,  libels,  ad- 
dresses, or  whatever  else  may  affect  the 
body  of  Jews,"  and  which  is  to-day  the 
most  influential  organization  of  Jews  in 
the  world.  He  may  be  a  son  of  our  Moses 
Lindo.  The  latter  was  himself  an  impor- 
tant personage  in  London  prior  to  his 
coming  to  South  Carolina.  He  himself 
tells  us  (January  19,  1767:)  "I  have  been 
allowed  to  be  one  of  the  best  judges  of 
Cochineal  and  Indico  on  the  ROYAL  EX- 
CHANGE, for  upwards  of  25  years  past, 
and  have  not  been  thought  unworthy 
(when  Sir  Stephen  Theodore  Jansen  rep- 
resented the  city  of  London  in  Parlia- 
ment) to  be  called  with  Mr  Samuel  Torin 
and  Mr  Daniel  Valentine,  to  give  my  sen- 
timents of  Carolina  Indico  to  the  hon- 
House  of  Commons  of  Great  Britain." 
Suffice  it  to  say,  then,  that  he  was  an 
expert  indigo  sorter,  in  London,  who,  no- 
ticing that  a  particularly  fine  grade  of  in- 
digo was  received  from  South  Carolina, 
changed  his  headquarters  in  1756  from 
London  to  Charles-Town.  The  rest  of  his 
story  cannot  be  better  told  than  by  the 
Gazettes  themselves. 


2114291 


We  first  meet  with  Moses  Lindo  in  the 
Gazettes,  some  three  months  before  he 
arrives  in  Charles-Town.  The  following 
is  the  first  notice  of  him  and  appears  in 
the  supplement  to  the  "South  Carolina 
Gazette"  of  Thursday,  August  19,  1756. 

"A  Correspondent  in  London,  has  sent 
us  the  following  Advertisement,  and  with 
it  proper  Directions  for  making  Lime 
Water  to  subside  Indico. 

"To  the  Printer  of  the  Public  Adver- 
tiser: 

"SIR: 

"I  HAVE  examined  the  major  Part  of 
the  Carolina  Indico  entered  this  year,  and 
have  the  Pleasure  to  find  a  considerable 
Quantity  equal  to  the  BEST  French;  and 
tho*  there  is  some  inferior  to  the  Sight  by 
3s.  6d.  per  Pound,  yet  on  using  it  as  under, 
I  am  convinced  the  Inferiority  is  not  more 
that  Is.  6d.  a  Pound.  Therefore,  Sir,  your 
publishing  this,  will  be  a  singular  Service 
to  the  consumer,  and  consequently  oblige. 

"Your  constant  Reader, 

"Moses   Undo,    Wormwood-street. 

"The  Carolina  of  the  above  Sortment 
must  be  ground  finer  than  the  French, 
and  cast  into  Blood-warm  Water  three 
Days  before  Use,  drawing  off  the  Water 
every  24  hours,  and  casting  fresh,  and 
adding  a  5th  Part  more  Madder  than 
usual.  The  Cause  of  its  not  working  free 
is,  that  some  of  the  Makers  at  Carolina 
are  unacquainted  when  their  Lime-Water 
is  proper  to  subside  the  Indico." 

"THE  DIRECTIONS. 

"The  proper  Lime-Water  for  Indico 
must  be  the  Third  Water:  The  First  cast 
away  after  four  Hours,  the  Second  after 
eight;  but  the  Third  must  stand  ten, 
which  will  be  more  Ascid  than  alkaline. 
The  Crust  that  rises  on  the  Water  must 
be  carefully  taken  off,  otherwise  it  will 
cause  the  Mould,  which  would  appear  in 
the  Indico  white,  to  be  the  colour  of  rusty 
Iron. 

"It  would  be  greatly  to  the  advantage  of 
the  Maker,  if  the  Pieces  were  an  Inch  and 
a  half  square." 

FROM   LONDON  TO   CHARLES  TOWN. 
The  next  notice  of  Moses  Lindo  is  the 
announcement  of  his   arrival  in  Charles- 
Town. 


"MOSES  LINDO  gives  this  public  No- 
tice, tha/t  he  is  arrived  from  London,  with 
an  Intent  to  purchase  Indico  of  the 
Growth  and  Manufacture  of  this  Province, 
and  to  remit  the  same  to  his  Constituents 
in  London,  classed,  sorted  and  packed  in  a 
Manner  proper  for  the  foreign  market. — If 
any  are  desirous  to  know  upon  what 
Credit,  and  to  what  Extent  he  purposes 
to  carry  on  his  Branch  of  Business,  he 
begs  leave  to  refer  them  for  Particulars 
to  Mr  John  Rattray,  who  is  possessed  of 
his  Papers,  and  to  whom  he  is  recom- 
mended." 

(The  South  Carolina  Gazette,  Novem- 
ber 11,  1756.) 

The  magnitude  of  Lindo's  business 
transactions  may  be  gathered  from  the 
following: 

"Whereas  I  have  employ'd  the  Sum  of 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty  Thousand 
Pounds  Currency  in  the  Produce  of  this 
Country,  besides  30,000  Pounds  in  Prize- 
Goods  and  other  Articles,  all  which  are 
paid  for,  as  appears  by  my  Receipt-Book, 
except  about  3,800  Pounds  Currency,  2,000 
of  which  does  not  become  due  'till  the  22d 
Instant.  The  Remaining  1,800  Pounds  I 
have  my  objections  for  not  paying. 

"NOW  THIS  IS  TO  GIVE  NOTICE,  to 
every  Gentleman,  Planter  and  Trader  in 
this  Province,  who  has  any  Demands  on 
me,  that  they  come  and  receive  their 
Money  from  the  15th  to  the  25th  Instant. 
If  any  One  should  take  the  Liberty  of 
contradicting  the  above  Advertisement,  01 
give  out  any  other  malicious  Insinuation, 
in  order  to  prejudice  me  in  the  Good  Opin- 
ion of  those  I  have  dealt  with,  I  shall 
esteem  it  one  of  the  greatest  Favours 
•  done  to  me,  to  let  me  know  the  same  by  a 
Line,  and  their  Names  shall  be  concealed. 
And  if  such  Information  comes  from  a 
person  of  middling  Circumstances,  on  due 
Proof  thereof,  I  do  hereby  promise  to  re- 
ward him  with  the  Sum  of  Five  Hundred 
Pounds  Currency. 

"I  return  my  Thanks  to  those  Gentle- 
men who  assisted  me  In  taking  my  Bills 
for  12,000  Pounds  Sterling;  and  to  the 
Planters  of  Winyah  and  those  of  the 
Southward,  for  giving  me  the  Preference 
of  their  Indico.  And  do  hereby  assure 
them,  that  (if  it  please  God  I  live  'till  the 
next  Season)  I  will  not  let  their  Fine  In- 
dico Fall  under  20  Shillings  per  Pound, 
having  all  the  Reason  to  believe  I  shall 
have  200,000  Pounds  Currency  to  lay  out 


the  ensuing  Year  in  that  Article;  where- 
fore I  hope  they  will  not  be  discouraged. 
""MOSES  LINDO 

Whoever  is  desirous  of  being  informed 
what  I  paid  for  what  I  bought,  may 
know  of  William  Branford,  John  Hutchin- 
son,  John  Butler,  William  Gibbs,  Jonas 
Butterfleld,  Andrew  Gowan,  &c,  &c. 

"N.  B.— If  any  Person  is  willing  to  part 
with  a  plantation  of  500  Acres,  with  60  or 
70  Negroes,  I  am  ready  to  purchase  it  for 
ready  money.  Please  to  leave  a  Line  di- 
rected to  me  at  Mrs  Shepard's  in  Tradd- 
street,  and  Secrecy  shall  be  observed  if 
not  agreed  on." 

(Supplement  to  the  South  Carolina  Ga- 
zette, March  10,  1757.) 

A  SCIENTIFIC   EXPERIMENTER. 

Moses  L/indo  was  not  only  an  expert  in- 
digo sorter,  but  was  also  a  scientific  ex- 
perimenter with  dyes.  He  sought  to  en- 
courage investigation,  likewise,  on  the 
part  of  others  by  offering  prix.es  for  dis- 
coveries if  they  proved  to  be  of  value- 
Witness  the  following: 

"Mr  Timothy: 

"I  HAVE  made  Trial  of  Two  CRIM- 
SON DYES  lately  discovered  in  this  Prov- 
ince; and  in  Justice  to  Mr  John  Story 
of  Port  Royal,  Carpenter,  I  am  obliged  to 
declare,  that  I  find  his  Crimson  called 
JOHN'S-BLOOD,  answers  all  the  Pur- 
poses of  Cochineal;  for  it  dyes  a  fine  Crim- 
son on  Cotton,  so  as  to  stand  washing 
with  Soap- Lees;  and  it  is  my  firm  Opin- 
ion will  likewise  dye  Scarlet.  I  have  sent 
Samples  of  it  Home,  via  Bristol,  that, 
when  approved  of  in  London,  by  Messrs 
George  Farmer  and  George  Honour,  two 
eminent  Dyers  there.  The  said  Mr  Story 
may  be  entitled  to  Part  of  the  Reward  of- 
fered by  the  Society  for  encouraging  Arts, 
to  such  as  can  fix  a  Scarlet  or  Turkey 
Red  on  Cotton 

"And  as  there  are  many  Roots  and 
Weeds  to  be  found  in  this  Province  and 
Georgia,  that  Will  dye  REDS,  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  all  who  will  meet  with  such  in 
their  Way,  to  send  me  a  Pound  dried  in 
the  Shade;  that  I  may  make  Trials  of 
them.  And  if  the  Discoverers  be  persons 
in  middling  Circumstances,  and  what  they 
produce  to  me  be  proven  a  DYE,  I  will  re- 
ward them  with  Fifty  Pounds  Currency, 
and  use  my  best  Endeavors  to  obtain  for 
them  further  Gratuities  from  the  Dyers' 
Company  in  London. 


"I  am  sensible,  Mr  Timothy,  you  are  •». 
Well-Wisher  to  the  Interest  of  this  Prov 
ince  and  the  Mother-Country;  therefore, 
hope  you  will  not  omit  publishing  in  your 
Gazettes  any  Hints  tending  to  the  Ad- 
vantage of  both  whenever  such  are  offered 
you;  and  thereby,  amongst  others  oblige 

"Your  Constant  Reader, 

"MOSES  LINDO. 

"Charles-Town,  July  16,  1759." 

(South  Carolina  Gazette,  Saturday,  July 
28,  1759.) 

Moses  Lindo's  contract  with  the  Lon- 
don house  which  he  represented  having 
expired,  and  their  agent  having  failed  to 
pay  for  the  indigo  consigned  to  them,  as 
also  his  annual  allowance,  he  next  an- 
nounces that  during  his  stay  here  he 
would  mark  Carolina  Indico,  First,  Sec- 
ond and  Third  Sort,  as  he  had  done  for 
them  on  a  reasonable  commission.  He 
does  not  expect  to  be  paid  unless  the  in- 
dico  so  sorted  "adds  credit  to  this  prov- 
ince and  profit  to  those  who  chuse  to  ship 
that  article,"  so  as  to  prevent  impositions 
by  the  purchasers  of  Carolina  indico  in 
England. 

(South  Carolina  Gazette,  November  14, 
1761.) 

"AS  GOOD  AS  THE   FRENCH." 

In  the  next  notice  he  announces  that  in 
consequence  of  his  advertisement  of  the 
12th  of  November  last,  several  gentlemen 
have  left  their  indico  to  his  care.  He 
assures  the  public  that  out  of  the  twenty 
thousand  weight  on  board  of  the  vessels 
under  convoy,  there  are  18,000  as  good  as 
the  French.  Should  it  appear  at  home  to 
the  purchasers  of  it,  that  he  has  not  de- 
monstrated it  as  such,  he  says  that  it  will 
be  doing  the  gentlemen  here  a  piece  of 
service  if  they  will  signify  his  fault  in 
Lloyd's  Evening  Post,  under  the  attesta- 
tion of  Messrs  Mark  Hudson  Peter 
Fearon,  Aaron  Lara  and  William  Richard- 
son, eminent  brokers  in  this  and  other 
dyes.  "To  whose  judgment  only  I  submit, 
as  well  as  to  their  equity  in  doing  me 
justice,  whether  they  ever  saw  so  large 
a  parcel  of  Carolina  indico  so  even  sorted 
as  not  to  differ  in  value  two  pence  ster- 
ling per  pound  from  the  first  lot  to  the 
last." 

Lindo  had  met  with  such  marked  suc- 
cess in  his  business,  that  he  roused  the 
jealousy  of  his  competitors,  who  seem  to 
have  spread  false  reports  concerning  him. 


He  retaliates  in  this  same  advertisement. 

"As  some  purchasers  of  indico  may 
imagine  that  by  this  advertisement  I  want 
to  get  more  indico  to  sort,  I  do  hereby 
declare  that  I  will  only  do  it  for  those 
that  I  am  engaged  with,  they  being  weii 
known  to  capital  people,  and  capable  of 
purchasing  as  much  indico  of  the  planters 
as  I  can  well  attend  to."  He  indignantly 
denies  that  he  owes  more  than  3,000  guin- 
eas in  this  province  than  is  due  to  him  at 
home,  'as  some  people  have  through  their 
correspondence  insinuated  to  my  friends 
and  relatives.' 

The  advertisement  ends  with  a  humor- 
ous touch  of  scorn: 

"Sealed  with  my  seal,  well  known  in  most 
markets  in  Europe  for  these  25  years,  as 
always  prime  indico,  which  to  this  time 
of  life  I  have  not  yet  forfeited;  and  it  is 
to  me  really  a  diversion  to  see  some  peo- 
ple in  this  town  pretend  to  be  judges  of 
the  quality  of  indico,  to  one  that  has  had 
the  experience  of  upwards  of  thirty  years 
in  it;  and  I  wish  they  may  not,  by  which 
they  have  shipped  on  board  the  fleet,  ex- 
perience the  presumption." 

(South  Carolina  Gazette,  February  27, 
1762.) 

The  importance  of  the  indigo  industry 
to  the  province  of  South  Carolina  may  be 
appreciated  from  the  following  historical 
facts:  Indigo  began  to  be  cultivated  in 
South  Carolina  in  1744  and  was  exported  to 
England  as  early  as  1747,  where  it  attract- 
ed considerable  attention.  Great  Britain 
was  consuming  annually  600,000  pounds 
weight  of  French  indigo,  paying  for  it 
£150,000  pounds  sterling,  and  the  statistics 
showed  an  annual  increase  of  consump- 
tion. In  1748  Parliament  passed  an  Act, 
allowing  a  bounty  of  six  pence  per  pound 
on  indigo  from  the  British  Colonies.  This 
stimulated  the  South  Carolina  production 
and  in  1754  the  export  of  indigo  from 
Charles  Town  amounted  to  216,924  pounds, 
and  shortly  before  the  Revolution,  had 
risen  to  1,176,660  pounds. 

(Year  Book  for  1883,  pp.  402-3.) 

The  man  who  had  done  more  to  en- 
courage this  important  industry  (the 
greatest  source  of  revenue  in  those  days 
to  South  Carolina)  than  anyone  in  the 
province  was  Moses  Undo.  This  is  clear- 
ly evident  from  the  following: 

"The  services  heretofore  rendered  to 
this  province  by  Mr  Moses  Lindo,  in  as- 


certaining  the  quality  and  establishing  the 
reputation  of  our  indico-manufacture, 
both  at  home  and  at  the  foreign  markets, 
in  April  last  induced  many  gentlemen  of 
rank  and  fortune,  merchants,  planters 
and  others,  to  give  him  the  following  tes- 
timonial of  their  opinion  of  his  abilities, 
in  writing,  and  of  the  necessity  of  having 
a  public  inspector,  subscribed  with  their 
names,  viz: 

"In  order  to  bring  our  indico-produce 
into  reputation  at  home  as  well  as  at  for- 
eign markets,  it  becomes  necessary  to 
have  a  proper  person  qualified  to  ascertain 
the  value  of  our  First  Sort.  We  mer- 
chants, planters,  principal  traders  and 
others,  do,  therefore,  hereby  certify  under 
our  hands,  that  Mr  Moses  Lindo,  of 
Charles-Town,  merchant,  is  the  only  per- 
son kown  to  us,  capable  of  rendering  this 
province  further  service  in  that  article, 
if  he  is  willing  to  undertake  ascertaining 
the  same  and  to  grant  his  certificate  for 
the  First  Sort." 

This  testimonial  was  signed  by  the  Hon 
William  Bull,  Lieutenant  Governor,  5 
Members  of  his  Majesty's  Council,  the 
Speaker  and  19  Members  of  the  late  Com- 
mons House  of  Assembly,  41  merchants 
and  7  "considerable  planters  of,  or  deal- 
ers in  indico." 

THE  LEADING  INDIGO  PLANTERS. 

Because  of  the  local  interest  attaching 
to  the  names  appended  to  this  testimonial, 
I  print  it  in  full: 

*Hon  William  Bull,  Esq,  Lieutenant 
Governor;  the  Hon  Othniel  Beale,  Esq, 
"Henry  Middleton,  John  Guerard,  *John 
Drayton  and  "Daniel  Blake,  Esqrs,  mem- 
bers of  his  Majesty's  Council. 

Benjamin  Smith,  Esq,  Speaker,  and 
"Thomas  Middleton,  "William  Moultrie, 
"Peter  Manigault,  William  Scott,  "Thomas 
Bee,  "William  Blake,  William  Roper, 
*Robert  Pringle,  "Thomas  Lynch,  "Raw- 
lins  Lowndes,  "Benjamin  Dart,  "John 
Ainslie,  "Thomas  Ferguson,  "John  Parker. 
"James  Parsons,  "William  Maxwell, 
"Doet  John  Murray  and  "Sir  John  Colleton. 
members  of  the  late  Commons  House  of 
Assembly. 

Messrs  John  Chapman,  John  Torrans, 
John  Greg,  John  Poan,  "John  Smith, 
Thomas  Liston,  "Paul  Douxsaint,  "Miles 
Brewton,  Henry  Peronneau,  Thomas 
Corker,  John  Lloyd,  Arthur  Peronneau, 
William  Ancrum,  Lambert  Lance,  "Rich- 


ard  Dowries,  John  Benfleld,  Henry  Lau- 
rens,  George  Appleby,  John  Logan,  Martin 
Campbell,  John  Neufville,  Edward  Neuf- 
ville,  Thomas  Ellis,  John  Scott,  Thomas 
Farr,  jun,  James  Poyas,  Evan  Jones, 
*John  McQueen,  William  Guerin,  John 
Parrham,  Robert  Smyth,  Peter  Bacot, 
James  Laurens,  George  Ancrum,  Thomas 
Shirley,  George  Inglis,  Robert  Rowand. 
John  Nowell,  Samuel  Peronneau,  Peter 
Mazyck  and  Thomas  Moultrie,  merchants. 

Andrew  Johnston,  John  Moultrie,  jun, 
William  Gibbes,  Job  Milner,  Alexander 
Praser,  John  Mayrant,  William  Brand- 
ford- 

Considerable  planters  of,  or  dealers  in 
indico. 

(Note— The  gentlemen  with  the  mark  • 
prefixed  to  their  names  are  likewise  con- 
siderable planters  of  indico.) 

In  consequence  of  the  above  testimonial 
and  an  application  to  the  Governor,  his 
Excellency,  on  Tuesday  last,  was  pleased 
to  order  the  following  commission  to  be 
issued,  viz: 

SOUTH  CAROLINA: 

By  his  Excellency  THOMAS  BOONE, 
Esquire,  Captain  General,  and  Governor 
in  Chief,  in  and  over  the  said  Province. 

TO    MOSES    LINDO,    GENTLEMAN: 

WHERCAS,  several  of  the  most  consid- 
erable inhabitants  of  the  said  province,  as 
well  planters  as  merchants,  have  by  a 
writing  signed  by  them,  certified,  that,  in 
order  to  bring  the  indico  -produce  into 
reputation  at  home  and  at  foreign  mar- 
kets, it  is  become  necessary  to  have  a 
proper  person  qualified  to  ascertain  the 
First  Sort;  and  that  the  said  Moses  Lin- 
do  is  the  only  person  known  to  them  ca- 
pable of  rendering  the  province  further 
service  in  that  article,  if  he  is  willing  to 
undertake  ascertaining  the  same,  and 
grant  his  certificate  of  Its  being  the  First 
Sort.  And,  whereas,  the  said  Moses  Lin- 
do,  in  order  to  give  such  his  certificates 
the  more  weight  and  authority  in  Great- 
Britain,  has  made  application  to  me,  that 
he  may  be  appointed  Surveyor  and  In- 
spector-General of  Indico  in  the  province 
aforesaid.  I,  therefore,  in  consideration 
of  the  premises,  and  being  convinced  of 
the  fitness  and  ability  of  the  said  Moses 
Lindo  for  discharging  the  said  office,  do 
hereby  nominate,  constitute  and  appoint 


you  the  said  Moses  Undo  to  be  Surveyor 
and  Inspector-General  of  the  Indico  made 
in  the  said  province,  for  the  ends  and  pur- 
poses above  mentioned. 

This  commission  to  continue  during 
pleasure. 

Given  under  my  Hand  and  Seal  at 
Charles-Town,  this  21st  day  of  September, 
Anno  Dom.  1762,  and  in  the  second  year 
of  his  Majesty's  reign. 

THOMAS  BOONE. 

By  his  Excellency's  command. 

George .Johnston  for 
John  Murray,  Dep  Sec. 

(South  Carolina  Gazette,  September  25, 
1762.) 

The  next  notice  in  the  Gazette  is  an  an- 
nouncement of  Moses  Lindo  officially  as 
Surveyor  and  Inspector  General  of  In- 
dico. It  is  as  follows: 

MOSES  LINDO. 

Surveyor  and  Inspector-General  of  IN- 
DICO made  in  South  Carolina, 

GIVES  THE  FOLLOWING  NOTICES: 

That  as  there  is  at  present  no  obligation 
on  any  merchants  or  planters  to  submit 
their  Indico  to  his  inspection,  or  on  him 
to  take  that  trouble  for  nothing,  he  will 
be  ready  and  willing,  after  the  16th  in- 
stant, to  inspect  any  parcel  for  either,  as- 
certain the  FIRST  SORT,  and  his  certifi- 
cate therefor  for  the  small  consideration 
of  ONE  per  cent  on  the  value  of  the  Indi- 
co so  certified. 

That  he  will  make  no  distinction  of  per- 
sons in  Inspecting  and  giving  certificates, 
in  regard  to  the  quantity,  but  will  with 
equal  readiness  serve  a  planter  who 
brings  only  50  Ib  to  market,  as  him  who 
may  bring  thousands. 

That  where  any  differences  arise,  on  al- 
lowances to  be  made  for  bad  mixtures, 
the  accidental  dampness,  or  designed  wet- 
ness of  Indico  to  disguise  the  quality,  he 
will  expect  TWO  per  cent  for  his  decision 
and  ascertaining  the  value;  i.  e.,  ONE  per 
cent  from  the  seller,  and  as  much  from 
the  buyer. 

That  all  orders  gentlemen  Intend  to  fa- 
vour him  with,  to  purchase  Indico  on 
their  accounts  for  exportation,  must  be 
delivered  to  him,  or  left  at  Messrs  Inglis, 
Lloyd  &  Hall's,  on  or  before  the  16th  In- 
stant; after  which  he  will  receive  no  more 
till  those  then  In  his  hands  are  compleat- 
ed. 


And,  that  no  planter  or  other  person 
may  complain  that  he  means  to  Injure 
them  (which  is  far  from  hs  intention) 
he  declares,  that  he  will  not  buy  another 
parcel,  till  they  have  tried  the  market 
eight  or  ten  days;  when  he  will  purchase, 
on  orders  upon  some  of  the  principal 
houses  in  town,  at  three  months'  credit. 

N.     B.— He     begs     pardon     for     having 
omitted  among  the  subscribers  to  the  tes- 
timonial or  certificate,  in  consequence  of 
which  he   obtained   his    commission   from 
the  Governor,  to  give  the  printer  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen's  names:  *  *  * 
(South  Carolina  Gazette,  October  9,  1762.) 
THE  THREE   SORTS  OF  INDIGO. 
A    few    days    later    Moses     Lindo     an- 
nounces: 

That  he  has  opened  an  office  on  Mr 
Beresford's  wharf,  where  constant  at- 
tendance will  be  given  every  day  in  the 
week.  (Saturdays,  Sundays  and  holidays 
observed  at  other  offices,  excepted,)  from 
8  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  1  in  the  af- 
ternoon, in  order  to  survey,  inspect  and 
grant  certificates  for  all  parcels  of  indico 
that  shall  be  brought  to  him  for  that 
purpose  of  the  FIRST  SORT. 

That  he  will  not  give  his  certificate  for 
any  indico,  unless  the  planter  produces  a 
proper  certificate  of  Its  being  the  growth 
of  his  plantation. 

That  for  declaring  the  first  sort,  and 
granting  his  certificate  thereof,  he  ex- 
pects to  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  twenty 
shillings  currency,  for  every  hundred 
pounds  weight  of  indico  mentioned  in  such 
certificates,  and  the  like  sum  for  settling 
any  difference  between  buyer  and  seller, 
on  every  hundred  pounds  weight. 

That  if  any  planter,  in  eight  days  after 
obtaining  his  certificate  for  the  First  Sort, 
desires  him  to  procure  a  purchaser  for  the 
same,  he  in  that  case  expects  to  be  paid 
5  per  cent  commission,  if  such  indico  is 
not  in  any  merchant  or  factor's  hands; 
but  if  in  a  merchant  or  factor's  hands, 
then  only  20s  per  cent. 

That  he  will  not  sort,  garble  and  seal 
the  First,  Second  and  Third  Sorts  of  in- 
dico of  the  present  crop  for  exportation, 
but  for  the  following  gentlemen,  who  fa- 
voured him  with  their  orders  for  that 
purpose  before  the  16th  instant,  or  by 
orders  obtained  from  them;  for  which  his 
charge  will  be  3  per  cent,  Casks  and  all 
other  expences  included. 


That  all  his  fees  must  be  paid  him  be- 
fore the  delivery  of  his  certificates. 

That  he  will  not  accept,  or  undertake  to 
execute  any  orders  from  Europe  or  from 
any  of  his  correspondents  elsewhere,  to 
purchase  indico  for  them  this  crop.  And, 

That  if  any  unfair  dealings  should  be 
discovered,  by  fraudulent  mixtures,  after 
he  has  given  his  certificate  for  any  par- 
cels of  indico,  he  is  determined  to  expose 
such  intended  imposition. 

That  after  the  first  day  of  February 
next,  he  will  not  act  in  this  or  any  other 
capacity,  in  purchasing  or  declaring  the 
qualities  of  indico,  until  some  regulation 
is  made  by  Act  of  Parliament  to  encour- 
age the  planting  and  manufacturing  that 
valuable  dye.  *  *  * 

(South  Carolina  Gazette,  October  23, 
1762.) 

The  following  will  give  an  idea  of  the 
prices  brought  for  South  Carolina  Indico 
of  the  first  sort: 

"MOSES  LINDO,  Inspector  and  Survey- 
or-General of  South  Carolina  INDICO. 
Having  granted  certificates  for  the  FIRST 
SORT,  sold  at  the  prices  opposite  to  the 
names  of  the  respective  makers  (which  he 
declares  to  be  equal  in  quality  to  the  best 
French  that  has  been  taken  during  the 
last  or  present  war)  viz: 

s.  d. 

"His   Honor   the   Lieut.    Gover- 
nor's, sold  at 27  6  per  Ib 

George  Saxby,  Esq 40     per  tb 

John  Moultrie,   jun,   Esq 40     per  Ib 

Sir  John    Colleton,    Bart 30     per  Tb 

Mr  Edmund  Bellinger 30     per  Ib 

Alexander  Fraser,  Esq  ..26  and  40     per  Ib 

Mr  Charles  Elliott 23     per  Ib 

David   Deas,    Esq 27  6  per  Ib 

Mr  George  Marshal 24     per  Ib 

John  Pamor,  Esq 27     per  Ib 

George    Seaman,    Esq 26     per  Ib 

Mrs  Mary  M.  Daniel 23     per  Ib 

Mr  William  Campbell 21     per  Ib 

Mr  William  Pearson 25     per  Ib 

Mr   Philip  Porcher 27  6  per  Ib 

Mr  James  Laroach 22  6  per  Ib 

Mr  James  Commander 25     per  Ib 

Mr  William  Johnson 27  6  per  Ib 

Part  of  which  Is  now  on  board  the  Bos- 
cawen,  capt  David  Jenkins,  commander, 
bound  for  London. 


IN  THIS  PUBLIC  MANNER 

Requests,  that  the  commissioners  of  his 
Majesty's  customs  in  London,  will  desire 
15  or  16  gentlemen,  merchants,  salters  and 
brokers,  conversant  in  this  trade,  to  In- 
spect the  said  indico  when  landed,  and 
declare  their  sentiments  thereon  in  all 
the  public  papers. 

And,  whereas,  several  other  parcels  of 
indico  have  been  shipped  on  board  the  said 
frigate,  by  divers  persons,  in  like  pack- 
ages, which  have  not  been  inspected  or 
surveyed  by  him,  he  has,  therefore, 
thought  proper  to  give  a  certificate  for 
every  cask  that  has  undergone  his  inspec- 
tion, and  been  sealed  by  him,  specifying 
in  the  margin  the  kind,  weight  and  tare, 
and  registered  the  same  in  his  office; 
which  certificates  Mr  William  Richardson, 
broker  in  London  (one  of  the  best  judges 
of  indico  now  left  in  England)  will  take 
care  to  cancel  after  inspection.  This  pre- 
caution Is  so  eventually  necessary  for  tne 
interest  of  a  colony  where  any  manufac- 
tures are  produced,  that  in  England  the 
law  has  made  it  felony  punishable  with 
death,  to  counterfeit,  imitate  or  alter  any 
public  inspector's  mark.'' 

(South  Carolina  Gazettte,  January  15, 
1763.) 

In  his  next  notice  Mr  Lindo  refers  to 
his  last  big  shipment. 

"When  the  last  55  hogsheads  arrive  in 
England,  I  flatter  myself  the  world  will  be 
satisfied  of  my  integrity  of  heart  and  the 
uprightness  of  my  intentions;  as  well  as 
be  convinced,  that  I  have  devoted  myself 
to  the  service  of  my  native  country,  and 
equally  so  to  this  province;  for,  if  the 
indico  that  has  undergone  my  inspection, 
and  obtained  my  certificates,  shall  be 
proved  equal  in  quality  to  the  best  French 
(which  I  am  confident  it  will)  in  that  case 
£12,000  sterling  per  annum  bounty  will  be 
saved  to  the  Government,  and  the  planter 
here  always  sure  of  getting  25s  currency 
a  pound  for  the  First  Sort,  and  in  propoi- 
tion  for  the  Second  and  Third,  which  will 
be  sufficient  to  encourage  them  to  go  on 
in  the  planting  and  manufacturing  that 
valuable  dye."  *  *  * 
IGNORANCE  OF  SOME  PRETENDERS. 

It  would  thus  seem  as  If  Moses  Lindo 
had  been  meeting  with  criticism  and  op- 
position. He  ends  his  long  letter:  "Your 
publishing  this  letter  may  prevent  some 


evil-minded  persons  continuing  to  insinu- 
ate, that,  sensible  of  my  superior  knowl- 
edge and  experience  in  all  dyes  and  drugs 
to  any  in  Europe  or  America,  I  only  take 
the  advantage  of  exposing  the  ignorance 
of  some  pretenders  to  the  like,  which  is 
not  my  intention.  I  must,  however,  say 
that  no  person  whatever,  that  has  not 
been  ten  or  twelve  years  constantly  em- 
ployed as  a  broker  of  indico,  can  be  a 
competent  judge  of  that  article,  or  the 
true  value  of  each  quality;  therefore,  an 
error  in  judgment  after  that  time  must  be 
deemed  a  crime,  not  an  oversight." 

(South  Carolina  Gazettte,  March  26,  1763.) 

In  his  next  notice  Moses  Undo  an- 
nounces amongst  other  things,  that  he 
will  not  purchase  any  Indico  himself,  in 
less  than  three  or  four  days  after  it  has 
been  surveyed;  when,  if  no  better  price 
can  be  obtained  for  it  than  his  valuation, 
he  will  receive  it  at  that,  and  pay  for  the 
same  as  he  has  hitherto  done. 

(South  Carolina  Gazette,  October  22,  1763.) 

In  the  Gazette  of  March  24,  1764,  we  read 
that  "Moses  Lindo,  Esq;  has  lately  been 
presented  with  the  commission  appointing 
him  Surveyor  and  Inspector-General  of 
Indico,  under  the  great  seal  of  the  prov- 
ince." 

We  continue  to  meet  with  Moses  Lindo 
in  the  Gazettes  for  some  years  longer.  Sev- 
eral of  the  advertisements  are  of  no  par- 
ticular interest,  others  are  extremely  in- 
teresting. For  the  sake  of  completeness, 
I  shall  jot  down  all  the  references  to  him 
in  chronological  order.  He  advertises  on 
October  8,  1764.  In  his  advertisement  of 
May  4,  1765,  he  refers  to  "All  the  iniquitous 
practices  whicn  have  been  committed  with 
Carolina  Indico,"  and  which  he  declares 
he  will  never  countenance." 

AS  A  MEDICAL  EXPERT. 

The  next  item  is  very  amusing.  It  oc- 
curs in  the  Gazette  of  July  28,  1766.  Moses 
Lindo  in  his  investigation  into  the  proper- 
ties of  "roots  and  weeds,"  makes  a  valua- 
ble medical  discovery,  and,  while  not,  as 
far  as  I  know,  a  member  of  the  medical 
profession,  he  is  public  spirited  enough  not 
to  desire  to  retain  the  boon  for  himself, 
so  he  writes  this  letter  to  the  Gazette: 

"MR  TIMOTHY: 

"HAVING  lately  made  a  valuable  dis- 
covery, the  CURE  of  that  grievous  and 
common  disease  among  the  Negroes, 


called  the  YAWS.  *  *  *  I  beg  leave  to 
make  use  of  the  channel  of  your  paper  to 
make  the  Recipe  public  for  the  good  of 
mankind,  without  the  least  view  to  my 
private  advantage;  and  to  request  that 
such  gentlemen  whose  negroes  have  been, 
or  may  be  cured,  will  make  the  same  pub- 
lickly  known,  so  as  to  be  communicated 
to  his  Majesty's  other  American  domin- 
ions. I  am  yours,  &c. 

MOSES  LINDO, 
Inspector  General  of  Indico. 

RECIPE  TO  CURE  THE  YAWS,  &c. 

To  a  pound  of  Poke  root,  add  three 
ounces  of  Tobacco,  and  an  ounce  of  Ro- 
man Vitriol,  boil  the  same  in  five  quarts 
of  water,  till  reduced  to  a  gallon,  and 
strain  it.  With  this,  wash  the  infected 
part  three  times  a  day.  A  pint  is  suffi- 
cient for  ten  or  twelve  days. 

At  the  same  time  use  a  diet  drink,  made 
of  Two  pounds  of  Lignum  Vitae 
shavings,  four  ounces  of  the  bark  of  Sas- 
safras root,  four  ounces  of  Anniseeds,  and 
half  a  pound  of  brown  sugar,  boiled  in 
four  gallons  of  water  till  reduced  to  three. 
The  patient  to  take  a  pint  a  day,  mixed 
with  three  pints  of  water  for  twenty  days. 

Being  a  member  of  the  medical  fraterni- 
ty, and  morally  bound  by  the  ethics  of  the 
profession— one  rule  in  the  code  of  which 
is,  that  all  valuable  discoveries  are  to  be- 
come the  property  of  all,  I  hasten  to  an- 
nounce my  discovery  to  my  confreres  and 
hope  that  they  may  find  the  recipe  as  use- 
ful for  the  cure  of  the  "Yaws,"  as  did  its 
original  discoverer  Moses  Lindo. 

Moses  Lindo  advertises  again  on  No- 
vember 10,  1766,  and  on  January  19,  1767,  he 
writes  a  long  letter  to  Mr  Timothy  on  the 
present  status  of  Carolina  Indico  abroad. 

"I  have  lately  observed  with  concern,  in 
an  account  of  a  public  sale  of  12  casks  of 
French,  and  23  of  Carolina  Indico  on  the 
28th  of  August  last  *  *  *  that  all  the 
French  sold  at  4s  5d  per  tb,  while  only  one 
cask  of  the  Carolina  allowed  to  be  fully 
as  good  as  the  best  French,  obtained  no 
more  than  3s  8d,  and  all  the  rest  sold 
amazingly  low."  He  attributes  the  dif- 
ference to  a  combination  at  home  among 
the  importers  of  foreign  indico,  to  dis- 
courage its  cultivation  in  his  Majes- 
ty's Colonies.  He  "publickly  avers"  that 
the  Carolina  Indico,  which  he  distinguishes 
as  FIRST  SORT,  properly  prepared  by  the 


dyer,  will  yield  a  superior  dye  to  the  very 
best  French.  He  ought  to  know  more  cer- 
tainly than  the  generality  of  people  for 
"I  have  been  allowed  to  be  one  of  the 
best  judges  of  Cochineal  and  Indico  on  the 
ROYAL  EXCHANGE,  for  upwards  of  25 
years  past;  and  have  not  been  thought  un- 
worthy (when  Sir  Stephen  Theodore  Jan- 
sen  represented  the  city  of  London  in  Par- 
Jiament)  to  be  called  with  Mr  Samuel  To- 
rin,  and  Mr  Daniel  Valentine,  to  give  my 
sentiments  of  Carolina  Indico  to  the  hon. 
House  of  Commons  of  Great  Britain." 

OUR      FIRST      PLEA    FOR      "PROTEC- 
TION." 

Lindo  was  a  man  of  resources  and  a  true 
protectionist.  He  suggests,  that  as  there 
exists  a  prejudice  of  25  per  cent  against 
Carolina  Indico  brought  about  by  the  com- 
bination, that  the  British  Parliament,  in- 
stead of  continuing  the  present  bounty, 
should  lay  Is  a  pound  duty  on  all  the 
French,  exported  from  Britain  and  which 
would  save  no  less  than  £12,000  per  an- 
num to  the  Government,  and  at  the  same 
time  give  sufficient  encouragement  to  cul- 
tivate 1,500,000  tt>  in  his  Majesty's  Colonies, 
for  the  use  of  British  manufactories.  *  *  * 
As  Inspector-General  of  Indico  in  this 
province  (though  without  a  salary)  he 
thinks  it  his  duty  "to  rescue  that  valua- 
ble branch  of  our  staples  from  the  ma- 
lign influence  of  designing  men,"  as  far 
as  it  lies  in  his  power. 

fn  the  Gazette  of  October  10,  1771,  Moses 
Lindo  has  a  lengthy  communication  in 
defence  of  the  custom  of  packing  Carolina 
Indico  in  the  Spanish  shape.  "Judges,"  he 
says,  "never  buy  from  outward  appear- 
ance; they  will  examine  its  inward 
Quality.  Therefore,  there  can  be  no  Fraud 
in  the  Imitation."  He  quotes  in  defence  of 
his  contention  the  custom  of  mercers  who, 
in  order  to  get  off  their  fine  silks,  are 
often  obliged  to  call  them  French,  though 
wholly  wove  in  Spitalflelds.  He  makes 
several  observations  on  Carolina,  Flori- 
da and  Guatemala  Indico  and  ends  by  the 
statement  that  he  has  the  interest  of  this 
country  "as  disinterestedly  as  much  at 
heart"  as  any  native,  and  is  resolved  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  here, 
where  merit  will  meet  with  its  reward, 
without  partiality,  from  the  highest  to  the 
lowest  of  its  inhabitants. 


In  the  Gazette  of  July  23,  1772,  Moses 
Lindo  advertises  that  it  would  afford  him 
great  satisfaction,  if  three  or  four  per- 
sons, well  experienced  in  the  Indico  busi- 
ness, would  undertake  the  sorting  and 
garbling  of  Indico  for  exportation,  by 
which  means  that  valuable  produce  might 
recover  its  reputation  both  at  home  and 
at  foreign  markets.  His  own  services  are 
only  at  the  disposal  of  his  regular  pa- 
trons, whose  names  are  appended  *  *  * 

On  August  6,  1772,  there  is  an  announce- 
ment that  Moses  Lindo,  Esq,  has  resigned 
the  Place  of  Inspector-General  of  Indico 
for  this  province. 

On  August  20,  1772,  Lindo  publishes  a 
letter  to  Henry  Laurens,  Esq,  containing 
his  reasons  for  refusing  to  act  any  longer 
as  Inspector-General  of  Indico.  He  would 
not  seal  certain  classes  of  Indico  "and 
bring  disgrace  on  the  Seal  with  a  Crown 
over  G.  R."  He  would  still  continue,  how- 
ever, to  serve  his  friends,  if  his  knowl- 
edge can  be  of  any  use  to  them. 

On  November  12,  1772,  he  advertises 
again  vindicating  the  action  he  has  tak- 
en. 

SENDS  A  TOPAZ  TO  THE  QUEEN. 

The  next  item  is  a  most  interesting  one 
and  deserves  to  be  investigated  if  only 
for  curiosity,  by  some  English-Jewish  an- 
tiquarian. It  occurs  in  the  Gazette  of 
March  15,  1773. 

"Moses  Lindo,  Esq,  his  Majesty's  In- 
spector General  of  Indico,  having,  about 
eight  years  ago,  accidentally  met  with, 
and  for  a  Trifle  purchased,  a  Stone 
(among  others)  found  in  this  province, 
which  he  judged  to  be  a  WATER  SAP- 
PHIRE or  TOPAZ,  and  then  declared  to 
be  too  valuable  a  jewel  to  be  possessed 
by  any  other  than  the  Queen  of  England, 
making  a  Vow,  that  it  should  be  sent  to 
her  Majesty;  we  hear,  has  accordingly 
sent  the  same,  in  the  Eagle  Packet-Boat, 
by  the  Hands  of  the  Right  Hon  Lord 
Charles-Greville  Montague,  to  be  present- 
ed to  her  Majesty.  The  size  and  shape  of 
this  Stone  is  like  Half  a  Hen's  Egg,  and 
the  Weight  526  Carats." 

I  confess  that  I  am  curious  as  to  the 
subsequent  fate  of  this  stone  and  I  pro- 
pose to  try  and  find  out  something  fur- 
ther about  it. 

16 


On  September  6,  1773,  Lindo  publishes  a 
lengthy  letter  to  Mr  John  Ledyard,  of 
Melksham,  in  Wiltshire,  pointing  out 
many  fallacies  in  t~e  statements  made 
abroad  concerning  Carolina  Indico  and 
showing  him  how  he  may  prove  his  own 
statements  by  actual  experiment,  the  ma- 
terials for  which  he  is  sending  him.  This 
letter  is  a  splendid  illustration  of  Lindo  s 
patriotic  feeling  and  of  his  untiring  efforts 
in  behalf  of  the  province. 

On  November  22,  1773,  Lindo  makes  a 
statement  of  the  fight  he  is  making 
against  the  combination  in  London  against 
Carolina  Indico.  He  recites  what  he  has 
done  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  prov- 
ince and  refers  to  a  recommendation  that 
is  to  be  made  to  the  General  Assembly 
to  allow  him  a  yearly  salary  besides  fees. 
He  has  not  become  wealthy  as  the  result 
of  his  work:  "Should  any  accident  befall 
me  thro'  the  infirmities  of  age  or  other- 
wise, I  am  persuaded  it  is  not  difficult  for 
you,  or  any  of  my  friends  to  conceive  how 
very  wretched  a  being  would  be  Yours,  &c, 
"MOSES  LINDO." 

He  still  signs  himself  Inspector-General 
of  Indico. 

On  December  27,  1773,  there  is  a  notice 
that  13,000  pounds  weight  of  Indico,  be- 
longing to  two  planters,  were  last  week 
sold  by  Mr  Samuel  Prioleau,  jun,  at  a 
Dollar  a  pound  to  Moses  Lindo,  Esq;  In- 
spector-General, who  has  declared  that 
the  whole  quantity  is  equal  if  not  superior 
to  any  French  that,  in  the  many  years' 
experience  he  has  had,  has  gone  thro'  his 
hands,  or  fallen  under  his  observation. 

DIES   HERE  IN  1774. 

Moses  Lindo  died  in  1774.  The  South 
Carolina  Gazette  in  which  he  had  adver- 
tised so  extensively  for  so  many  years, 
makes  no  mention  of  his  death,  but  in  the 
South  Carolina  Gazette  and  Country  Jour- 
nal of  Tuesday,  April  26,  1774,  we  read: 

Charles-Town  April  26,  DIED,  Moses 
Lindo,  Esq;  for  many  years  Inspector- 
General  of  Indico  in  this  Town. 

There  is  but  one  notice  more  and  that 
in  the  South  Carolina  Gazette  of  May  23, 
1774:  "Moses  Lindo,  Inspector-General  of 
Indico,  having  departed  this  life,  his  Es- 
tate and  Effects  •  *  *  will  be  sold  at  public 
outcry  on  Saturday,  the  llth  of  June 
next."  *  •  • 

17 


I  have  thus  kept  track  of  the  subject  of 
my  sketch  from  the  time  he  landed  in 
South  Carolina  till  his  death.  Moses  Lin- 
do  left  no  will.  The  inventory  of  his  es- 
tate, dated  May  17,  1774,  and  appraised  at 
£1,199.17.8  is  recorded  in  the  Probate  Office 
Book  V,  p.  591.  It  has  been  a 
pleasure  to  me  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
of  this  public  spirited  and  patriotic  Jew 
who  was  a  resident  of  Charles-Town  from 
1756  to  1774.  He  is  but  one  example  of 
many  of  his  faith  who  have  contributed  in 
no  small  way  to  the  upbuilding  of  this 
great  country. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9-Series  444 


A     000118776    4 


